To celebrate its voyage through the landscapes that inspired many an Impressionist, a train running between Saint-Lazare station in Paris and Vernon-Gisors (where you get off if you want to visit Monet’s gardens in Giverny) has just been decorated with details from paintings by Monet, Pissarro and others.

And as all the paintings in question belong to the Musée d’Orsay, there are few images in the museum too! Here are a few photos and a film of how the giant stickers were applied…line J just got a little less dreary – six cars of a train have just been decorated withImpressionist art, with three themes: Paris and industrialisation, water and gardens, and landscapes of line J.

Moi

In the Shops

The Breton Shirt is Everywhere this Autumn... from the cheapest shops to Jean-Paul Gaultier, of course

French Fact

The Breton shirt was officially created by an Act dated the 27th March 1858 which introduced the blue & white striped knitted shirt in the uniform list of the French seaman. It was said that this stripe allowed for the easy location of man fallen into the sea.

Worn

Very Useful Skirt

Worn

Sturdy Courier Bag

Worn

A Stand-Out Tunic

Worn

12-Hour Shoes

Worn

A Flattering Dress

Keep your ticket

Keep your Metro ticket. You'll need it at your destination.

Find Your Way

Check out RATP's excellent website for finding your way on the Paris Metro.

Always Say Bonjour

Always say Bonjour to a shopkeeper and Merci when you leave - even if you're just looking.

Minibus vs Coach

Large buses = Ick!

Many tours of Paris offer a minibus option. I used Paris Vision for my excursion to Giverny. They picked me up and dropped me off at my hotel.

Nothing Carbonated on the Plane...

...or else you will "Pop". Need I say more?

FNAC

Shows, Galleries, Exhibitions, Excursions - Book your tickets ahead of time with FNAC.com. I did and it worked.

Hoping to Sleep on the Flight?

One word - Gravol

Several places throughout Paris you'll find street-urchins of all ages trying to dupe the naive. The first instance being in the doors of the RER trains heading downtown. They DO NOT work for the Metro. Ignore them. Later on they'll hand you a card stating "deaf-mute". Shake your head, Non.